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It's time for the directors of the Cornwall and Area Housing Corp. - particularly its members who are city councillors - to clear the air.

The air referred to here is the one emitted by air conditioners, the use and installation of which has been a slowly percolating issue for the housing corporation's tenants since a new policy was implemented in 2014. Twice this summer, you've read in these pages and elsewhere about tenants who've objected to and in some cases willingly contravened the policy.

The problems and confusion started last year, as soon as the policy was implemented after an improperly installed window A/C unit fell to the ground.

Like any landlord, the CAHC is fully within its rights to take whatever reasonable measures are required to protect its property and limit its liability. As a corporation owned by the public, these measures are taken to protect all of the city's ratepayers.

Like many people often do, changes in policy allowed under leases aren't noticed until they have an impact on an individual. It's not surprising existing tenants and even those signing leases since the new policy came into place didn't notice or see a clause in the contract permitting the new policy

Reading the exchanges on social media this week after the tenant who received an eviction notice entered the fray to further explain and defend her decision to re-install two window units only shows the CAHC has failed in any attempt to explain the policy consistently.

Portable A/C units are available through CAHC, but the cost stated both by its staff members and tenants varies and is in some cases higher than what you can find on the open market.

While many people are perfectly capable of sweating through the summer's heat and handle it as an inconvenience, CAHC shouldn't appear careless towards tenants who need A/C for medical reasons. It should be treating those who need it for medical reasons differently from those who have it as a comfort of convenience.

Building superintendents should have personally met with every tenant to explain the new policy. Time has shown that issuing a written notice wasn't enough. Management should have worked with those who absolutely require units to arrive at an acceptable compromise between protecting the public interest in limiting liability and people's safety and the medical needs of tenants.

CAHC directors should be ensuring the new policy does not limit their mandate to provide housing to those who find themselves unable to afford market-level rents.

With summer now coming to a gradual end, there is more than enough time to address the confusion and frustration this policy has caused before the temperatures rise in 2016.